End of January

And what do I have to show for it?
Actually, I've just about finished the kippah piece and it is lovely. I got back to doing handwork and beading and really enjoyed it. I just have to put binding on the piece and I'm done. But the "just" isn't so straightforward. I don't have enough tie left for the entire binding so am contemplating using bits and pieces of other blue fabrics. The question is how to connect them -- with diagonal or straight seams? With diagonal, I'd be losing more fabric, so maybe just straight. And then how to piece so I don't have seams in the corners. Oy.
In other news, I had my FAT (Fibre Arts Toronto) ladies over last Sunday for a stamping fest. I don't mind stamping using stamp pads but the other messier paints -- not for me. Laura was kind enough to take four boxes of books for the university book sale and two large bags of fabrics I won't be using for her guild and/or the Textile Museum yard sale. So I got some stuff I don't need out of the house. Yay me.
I am trying to keep on top of some semblance of order in my studio. My beads are colour sorted in watchmaker's cases. My next plan is to wrap my fabrics on cardboard. (I saw this great fabric wrapping system but am too cheap to invest money in it...)
My goal this weekend is to finish the three library pieces -- I have to put hanging sleeves on the two finished ones and finish off the third. I would like to make the mezuzah for the POM travelling exhibit. And maybe finish off one of my embellished WISPs.

Ties gutted

I have finished "gutting" Marty's ties. I now have three piles -- the ties, the labels and the "guts". I may just reuse the guts in a work I will call "Kishkes" (Yiddish for intestines...)
While gutting, I pondered what type of quilt to make and I still don't know. I am leaning towards a medallion quilt with ties in a circle with the labels in the centre of the circle. I could then do simple blocks with a folded tie in each block. A few sashes from ties. I just don't know yet.
While I was gutting them, though, I was very impressed with some of the fabrics, patterns, and colours. I think my next step will be to sort them into colour and value families and see what happens.
I also had a call from Johanna for whom I will be making a chuppah. So I want to finish the ties before then. I also have to finish the mezuza for the POM exhibit. And a piece I started with my father's kippah and some ties. So I have plenty to do. If I spend less time watching old movies and surfing the web, I should get it all done...

Marty's ties and other stuff

I finished Rotem's quilt and my next project is Marty's ties quilt. There were 92 ties (I thought there were more). I washed them in lingerie bags in the washing machine in cold water on a delicate cycle. They came out untangled and I air dried them on a drying rack. None of the ties disintegrated in the process, so that's good. (I have another 5-6 of his ties previously washed and ironed open for a chuppah which didn't materialize). I now have to "cannibalize" the ties, i.e. remove the lining. Then I have to decide whether to use the ties "as is" (retaining the folds and shape and appliqueing it to the background) or iron the fabric flat. I have received conflicting reports on this. If as is, I will have two layers of each tie. If ironed flat, it is recommended that I use iron on stabilizer so the fabric doesn't shift/stretch while working with it.
I'm not sure which method I will use, but for now I need to cannibalize and that should take a while.

Today Menachem was off so we figured we'd do some errands, including buying paint for the family room. We decided to go to the Home Depot near my mother's house so we could visit with her and hear about her trip to England. I called before we left the house but there was no answer. We went there anyways because we had to pick up some stuff from her basement. Then we went to the store. We really didn't want to spend a lot of money since we probably won't be staying in the house that long and are really painting it for selling purposes. We chose a contractor's paint which has four available tints -- two are white and two are off-white. We chose an off-white called "bone white" which leans slightly to the beige/taupe and isn't quite as stark as plain white. We also looked around a bit and then I called my mother who still wasn't home. (That ruled out "gone shopping"). So I called Yunkie to ask if he knew where she was and she was there. And they invited us for lunch. We rarely refuse an invitation... And we always have a good time with them. We had a nice visit but didn't get home until close to 5 p.m. So much for getting stuff done today...

But it was a good and relaxing day so it doesn't matter.

Tomorrow is my FAT group at Laura's place. I think I will take some ties for advice and some other handwork and see what everyone else has been up to. I also finally figured out, sort of, how to do a piece using a circular needlepointed dove (formerly from my late father's kippah). I'm thinking of also using one of his ties and some machine/bobbin stitching and hand embroidery and beading. I'll see how that goes.

Off to measure the walls for baseboarding for the family room.

Finished (almost)

So I finished the quilting of Rotem's quilt, and have the binding pinned and ready to go. Perhaps today after work. Yay me.
Then what? I really should make the potholder for Carmit. And start sorting Marty's ties.

Moving right along

I had a skype conversation with Rotem this morning in which he complimented me on Inbal's quilt. So now I know who's getting the second quilt, henceforth to be known as Rotem's quilt. And I got a lot of the quilting done today so I could, theoretically, finish it tomorrow. Yay, me. But I'm not sure I will, there's no rush. If the muse grabs me, fine. If not, not.
I may just do a few mindless sewing projects to keep busy.

Ring out the old, ring in the new

I am into day 2 of a long weekend, normally fantastic for getting a ton of sewing done. I'm not as motivated as I usually am but I am doing my best to make some headway.
Last year, just before Xmas, I started a major studio cleanup. I had previously accepted other people's fabrics and "stuff" because maybe I would use it one day. Reality check. Some of it I'm sure I won't use so I'm passing it off to others who may.
I sorted my beads and have them nicely organized but I'm short on watchmaker's cases to house the rest. I don't have the heart to get rid of beads, yet. I ordered the cases from Lee Valley Hardware -- no shipping costs between December 24th and January 4th. I also ordered a magnifier which snaps onto my glasses instead of the oversized contraption I am now using.
And I am on a mission to finish my PhDs, use up the donated fabrics and minimize as much as possible. And what can't be minimized, organize.
To that end, I am making placemats, bookmarks, coasters, trivets, etc.
This morning, I started quilting my second Inbal quilt. I am using a preprogrammed stitch on my machine so I don't have the stress I usually experience free-motioning.
We're invited to Yunkie and Mindy's for dinner so I made a garbage bag holder (sleeve with gathered ends) and stuffed it, in the meantime, with a bottle of wine. I may make something else if I get around to it.
On the ArtQuilt/QuiltArt (can't remember) list, people are talking about resolutions, setting goals, and intentions.
I am hesitant to do any of the three because our lives are in such flux right now. Inbal is expecting our first grandchild and we are planning to return to Israel. Economically, now is not the best time but life happens and we will have to adjust accordingly.
I am optimistic and excited about this next chapter in our lives!!